Lake Monsters celebrate local military personnel

Vt. National and Air Guardsmen among attendees

The Vermont Lake Monsters won their game against the Staten Island Yankees on Thursday, but there was a bigger reason to cheer in the crowd.

It was the Lake Monsters’ annual military appreciation night at Centennial Field. Dozens of active military personnel and veterans watched as the Lake Monsters took the game 3-2.

“It makes me feel amazing that I have people supporting me other than just my family and friends,” said Anthony Lorenzo, 21, a Vermont National Guardsman. “I have a whole state, a whole community.”

The game kicked off with a first pitch by an active Vermont Air Guard member.

“I was all about it and I was glad we got to come,” Lorenzo said. “I'm a huge fan,” he added about the Lake Monsters.

Fans rooted for two teams Thursday: the Lake Monsters and our men and women in uniform.

Lefty Guillette is a veteran of the Korea and Vietnam wars. He watched as people young and old gave their thanks by signing a big board with the words “Thank You for your service” on it.

Just a few feet away, a group handed out green ribbons in support of bringing the F35 fighter jet to Burlington.

The F35 has stirred debate in the community as some fear it will be too loud, depreciate home values and be an added nuisance. Advocates for the F35 believe abandoning the jet would mean losing the air guard base, which they said could cause economic catastrophe.

Nicole Citro, of Green Ribbons for the F35, said the F35 should land in Vermont.

“They work so hard, and they have done such an excellent job getting themselves to a point where they're being considered by the Air Force for this position. For the F35s to be here I just feel like we need to support them.”

Valerie Pallotta’s son was deployed to Afghanistan with the Army National Guard. She also supports the F35.

“Having the F35s here, having the Air Guard here, it's going to be huge for our community and the families of veterans and the veterans themselves.”

Whether you are for or against the F35, Thursday was all about honor -- and everyone supported those in uniform.

“The community support that people are showing for our military and our veterans is just heartwarming,” Pallotta said.

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